Meet Lauren: People and Culture Partner

I’m motivated by doing something that feels worthwhile and has a positive impact on people and community. I started my career in a state government graduate program in the homelessness area. That was eye-opening as a 20-something year old and sparked my curiosity about how things work at the community level. Later, I moved back to the Barossa Valley where I’d grown up and started looking for work in the area.

I started at council quite new to the human resources world – I’d completed a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources but had only undertaken components of human resources in previous roles. I’d also had some time out of the workforce after having my first child. At The Barossa Council I was able to put my study into practice with guidance and mentoring.

Since then, I have moved into a partner role from a recruitment focused role, and my team have supported me to expand my knowledge and learn more about human resources on the job. The opportunity and support for me to develop within council is something I really value and is something that is fostered and encouraged across the organisation.

In my role I help teams think about their structure, their position descriptions and the classification of positions. Beyond recruitment, I support staff with things like income protection, employment terms and conditions, and advice on policies and procedures. My day-to-day and week-to-week responsibilities vary depending on the needs of the organisation. Working with so many professionals across the council keeps my role exciting.

"There are so many benefits to working here! We have a staff wellbeing and resilience program and a healthy lifestyles program which includes free flu vaccinations, skin checks and more. There’s a lot of flexibility too."

Human resources is a predominantly internal-facing area of the business, but it has great impact on the work the rest of the council does. We make sure we have good processes to support our employees, find the right fit for jobs and contribute to the creation of a good organisational culture.

There are so many benefits to working here! We have a staff wellbeing and resilience program and a healthy lifestyles program which includes free flu vaccinations, skin checks and more. There’s a lot of flexibility too. We understand that if we support work–life balance and the other priorities in people’s lives, we can get the best from our staff. People are happy to come and put in the effort when they get the support they need.

A lot of people are motivated to work here not because of money or status, but to give back to their community.

If you’re thinking of joining a council, go for it! There are great opportunities to use your skills and knowledge to positively impact your community. You’ll gain a supportive workplace that cares about and prioritises work–life balance.